Tags mark items that are new products from manufacturers on the shelves at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Niskayuna, NY. The new grocery store opens Friday. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

Tags mark items that are new products from manufacturers on the shelves at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Niskayuna, NY. The new grocery store opens Friday. (Paul Buckowski / ... more

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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A view of the gluten free section as workers finish stocking the shelves at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Niskayuna, N.Y. The new grocery store opens Friday. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) less

A view of the gluten free section as workers finish stocking the shelves at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Niskayuna, N.Y. The new grocery store opens Friday. (Paul Buckowski / ... more

A view of the new Walmart Neighborhood Market on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Niskayuna, N.Y. The new grocery store opens Friday. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

A view of the new Walmart Neighborhood Market on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013 in Niskayuna, N.Y. The new grocery store opens Friday. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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A bite-sized supercenter

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Niskayuna

Welcome to the neighborhood.

That's the message Walmart has for residents of Niskayuna and surrounding areas with the opening of its Walmart Neighborhood Market, the first of its kind in upstate New York and the second in the state.

The 39,000-square-foot market is designed to be the grocery section of the retail giant's Supercenter, but with a larger selection, said store manager Juan Rivera. It also offers cleaning, gardening and automotive care products.

"Customers can get in and out and get what they need without having to walk through the larger Supercenter," Rivera said.

The Neighborhood Market lacks a deli or a butcher counter. Rivera said customers can instead pick up a package of meat or cheese and be on their way.

The store has a pharmacy and will offer the website-to-store ordering that larger Walmarts offer. Though it doesn't sell, for example, televisions, Rivera said a customer could order a TV online and pick it up at the Neighborhood Market.

Walmart pricing standards will be in effect at the market, Rivera said.

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"Anywhere someone sees the Walmart sign, they know they are going to get good prices," he said.

The store, at Mansion Square at the corner of Route 5 and Balltown Road, officially opens at 8 a.m. Friday, with a grand opening ceremony set to be held at 7:30 a.m.

Rivera said he expects high interest to parlay into success for the store, with one reason being its central location between Schenectady and Albany.

"We are working hard on letting the community know that we are here for this community," he said.

The community's demographics are something Rivera said he has taken into account in stocking the shelves. He said he has tried to add Hispanic foods to the store's lineup and is trying to incorporate locally produced foods as well.

The store features Saratoga Spring Water, Saratoga Chips and New York-produced apples. Store employees — up to 95 jobs are projected to be created, according to the company — come from the communities between Albany and Schenectady, Rivera said. Besides managing the store, Rivera is pastor of Open Hands Ministry Church in Schenectady.

"I want to offer things to make customers come in and say, 'This is my local neighborhood market,'" Rivera said. "My goal is to get as many local vendors as I can."